§ 42. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the publication of the Annual Report on Fleets will now be resumed.
§ Sir R. RossIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is impossible to follow the state of affairs in the Navy, which is withering away by ships being sold or given to other navies, and that we cannot follow how the Navy is decreasing without this return? Why is it not published, as it used to be published before the war?
Mr. DugdaleI really cannot accept the statement, nor do I think the hon. Gentleman really means it, that the Navy is "withering away." The Navy is in a perfectly fit and proper state, but we do not intend to publish Fleet returns until 1211 other nations publish information about their fleets as was done before the war.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the lack of knowledge concerning our Fleet, which must result from the absence of this publication, does damp down ardour for the Fleet in the public mind? Will not he encourage people to take an interest in their Fleet by giving them more information about it?
Mr. DugdaleNo, Sir, I think the public have every confidence in the strength of their Fleet and also in the officers and ratings, whatever anybody on the other side of the House may say.
§ Mr. Henry UsborneIf all other nations take the view that they will not publish information until other nations do likewise, is it likely that any nation will ever be able to publish it?
Mr. DugdaleWe have stated that we will do so when other nations do. If they said the same, I have no doubt it would be published.
Mr. Wilson HarrisIf it was thought proper to publish information about our Navy before the war, when there were formidable hostile naval Powers, why cannot it be done now, when there is no formidable hostile naval Power?
Mr. DugdaleThat was not the point. Before the war all other nations, including Germany, published these figures. This time this information is not published by various other nations.